Planning
Before you can plan a trip, you have to choose it. To help you choose the best trip for you and increase your likelihood of successfully completing your objective, it’s helpful to have a strategic approach to trip planning. On December 3, Andrew and I hosted a livestream where we shared a framework and tools…
Do you have questions about our 2025 guided trips? If so, consider: We’ll cover topics such as: Want to submit a question? Fill out this form. We’ll do our best to cover as many as possible during the livestream. If you’re unable to make it live, a recording will be provided. Watch the replay:
The High Sierra is probably our favorite backpacking destination in the lower 48. The range is huge and intricate; the towering mountains are majestic; the off-trail travel is both blissful and exciting; road access is very limited; and the crowded, high-use areas are easy to leave behind. These are just a few of the reasons…
Alaska is home to arguably the best backpacking in North America and planning a trip there requires careful consideration of factors that are unique to that location. Join Andrew and I on April 9 for a discussion on how to plan a backpacking trip to places such as the Brooks Range, Wrangell-St. Elias, Denali National…
Last night Andrew and I hosted a 55-minute tutorial on trip planning. If you joined us, thank you. If you didn’t, you can watch the replay below. Please join us for our next discussion at the end of the month about the ways in which backpacking is fundamentally different for women than men. Topics we…
Join Andrew and I on March 6 for another tutorial livestream. The focus of this conversation is a deep dive on how to plan a backpacking trip. Join us on March 6 at 6:00pm MT here. Topic covered will include: Andrew draws from experience planning lengthy expeditions like the: And Katie from planning trips, such as:…
Last night, Andrew and I hosted the last of our Ask Us Anything events this week. Our special guest was Mikaela Osler. Mikaela is a Triple Crown thru-hiker (AT, PCT, CDT), has set FKT’s on the Long Trail and Colorado Trail, is an excellent guide, and has an infectiously positive personality. In this conversation, we…
Yesterday Andrew and I hosted the second of this week’s Ask Us Anything. Our special guest was Brian Robinson, one of Andrew’s original guides who was the first person to complete the Calendar Year Triple Crown, in 2001 and the seventh Barkley Marathon finisher and former course record holder, and who completed the John Muir…
Last week I wrote about the High Sierra’s record-breaking 2023-23 snowpack and its implications for trip planning, gear selection, and essential skills. In short, this season will be far from normal. Are you ready for that? This week Katie Gerber and I are hosting an “Ask Us Anything” online event to answer your questions about…
As atmospheric rivers crashed into the High Sierra during the 2022-23 winter, I had two primary reactions. I was: In 2023 backpacking trips in the High Sierra will be more difficult and risky than identical itineraries in past seasons. However, it’s possible to accurately predict, entirely avoid, and/or safely manage the challenges. Personally, I think…